ALUMNI EXPERIENCES

MONIEK KÖTTER

Moniek is completing her Doctor of Psychology degree at GGZON (Mental Healthcare East Holland).

WHY DID YOU CHoOSE THIS PROGRAMME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE?

I chose this Psychology programme because I wanted a better understanding of why people are the way they are, how we behave as people, what we think, what we feel, but mainly why we do all these things.

WHAT ARE YOUR DUTIES WITHIN YOUR ORGANISITION?

I am currently completing my Doctor of Psychology degree, which I hope to finish in July 2014. One day a week I have a training day, and the other four days I work at GGZON, an institution for outpatient psychiatry and psychotherapy. I mainly help people with anxiety and mood problems and personality disorders. I also diagnose clients by means of psycho-diagnostic tests with a focus on personality disorders and developmental disorders, like ADHD and Autism, among others.

WHAT KNOWLEDGE FROM YOUR STUDIES DO YOU USE AT WORK?

I use many of the facets of cognitive behavioural therapy that we covered at university. In addition to looking at the problems and restrictions a person might be experiencing, I try to focus on his or her strengths and tap into those.

WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?

Currently, the whole field of mental healthcare is changing and it demands a lot of flexibility from us psychologists. New and increasingly efficient treatments are being developed and my goal for the future is to keep learning about these treatments and to help implement these methods at the institution. I also think it is very important, in spite of the pressure from health insurances, to keep offering customized care.

DO YOU HAVE ANY 'TOP TIPS' FOR FUTURE STUDENTS?

Make sure you realize that, as a psychologist, no matter what the technique, you still bring a part of yourself into the therapy, and that you-ness is very important! Don't lose sight of it. Don't just acquire knowledge, but also develop yourself as a person and be proud of that piece of You.